Jobs report is mixed bag in battleground states

The latest state jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics represents a mixed bag for President Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney in some of the key battleground states, as both men try to convince voters they’re best equipped to strengthen the nation’s economy.

The report showed that Ohio had the second largest month-to-month increase in employment, while North Carolina and Pennsylvania suffered the largest drop-offs.

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The updated jobs picture comes as Mr. Romney kicks off a bus tour that will carry him through six states, including Ohio and Pennsylvania, that are expected to play a big role in deciding who calls the White House home next year.

Both Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney delivered speeches in Ohio on Thursday.

Earlier this month, the labor bureau said that the nation added 69,000 jobs in May and the national unemployment rate ticked up to 8.2 percent.